The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-06-23
!. A NIGHT IN A TOMB.
An Experience Of Horror With
Egyptian Mummies.

An Experience or Horror With
Egyptian Mummies.
The ancient Egyptians believed that
after the lapse of many ages the spirits
Of the dead returned to, and restored to
life, the bodies they originally inhabited.
Hence their care to preserve the mortal
remains of their deceased friends. 1t is
to this belief that we are indebted for
the mummies which are found through
out Egypt in great numbers, despite
the plundering Of tombs which has been
in progress for many hundreds of years,
During the lifetime of King his tomb
was made ready. Many of the royal
resting places are of great extent. They
are excayated in the solid rock, and
consist of series of chambers, of which
only one is actually used as tomb. 1t
is rarely less than three hundred feet
from the entrance of the excavation to
the mausoleum chamber, while some of
the tombs have linear extent of seven
or eight hundred feet.
After the completion of the funeral
ceremonies, great pains were taken to
conceal the depository of the royal
mummy. The mausoleum chamber
was sealed, and its entrance walled up
in as close an imitation as possible of
the surrounding rock. This imitation
was so successful that modern explor-
ers have sometimes been deceived, and
the location of the chamber has only
been ascertained by pounding on the
walls and carefully noticing the sound
produced by the blows.
The outer entrance of the tomb was
similarly closed and made to resemble
the side of the mountain where the ex-
eayation had been made. Rock and
sand were piled against it, and the
rains assisted in the work of conceal
ment by washing down the debris.
The workmen who bad been en-
ployed in and about the tomb were sent
70 distant parts of the country, or into
the army; or put to death and converted
into mummies, in order to make sure
that they should reveal nothing. No
records we're kept, and thus it was
hoped that in short time the location
Of tomb would be totally lost.
This was not always the case, as
some OF the tombs were plundered in
ancient times, and others were emptied
oltheir tenants and reoccupied. But
considerable number were successful
y concealed until the present century,
and were discovered by European in
vestigators.
Less than ten years ago royal tomb
was discovered near the site of ancient
laebes More than thirty royal mum
mics were found in the tomb, and are
now In the museum at Cairo.
ihere are Kings and Queens O,
several families and dynasties, and
ZONE =. o. them are admirably preserved.
Alng finotem l., who lived and died
M0re tnan three thousand years ago,
aa oe readily designated as Of Nubian
virgin, and the photograph of his
mummy might be taken for that of an
aged negro, dead only few honrs.
- "1n the mummy Of young Queer
aes that Of her.pet gazelle, and also 8
oas.et Of provisions which were in.
Naaed Tor her use at the moment hel
punt should return and she breathed
eace more in life. That feminine tastt
y ! ancient Egypt was much like that o,
80 present time is evinced by the store
%0ntnent- nt-bottles, perfumery, paints
saers and articles of apparel. thai
~ the side Of the Queen when the
s1ln was opened.
- course. the news of the discover,
1ls royal tomb caused much excite.
~ 49, among all Egyptian scholars, and
~ was great desire on the part O,
Tssslers ascending the Nile to visit it
- 'omb IS at Dayr-el- Baharee, in .
ay valley near the ruins of Thebes
49, W the opposite side of the rive
nom modern Luxor.
s, Mlend Of the writer visited thi.
d me year after it was opened, ant
senfnre within it was one which
s.d - would be willing to share. 1t i,
Na words:
Il. visited the new tomb at Dayr-el
ase accompanied by a boy VIII,
~ ~ donkey and carried the can
5,s.a a provisions intended for tn.
8. occupation. thought guild,
q. s1necessary, and after unpackin,
~ DIVISIONS. sent the boy and donke,
. tne river, as intended walkin,
6,.s g eater the tomb it is necessary t,
as 2 perpendicular shaft nearl,